Gase, 37, served as the offensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears this season. He worked wonders with Jay Cutler, who threw fewer interceptions than he had each year since 2011, when he was picked off seven times in 10 games.

Cutler released a statement on Gase's move, via Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times:

Previously, Gase spent two seasons as the offensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos, helping to construct one of the league's best offenses alongside Peyton Manning. He also spent two seasons with the team as the wide receivers coach and two seasons as the quarterbacks coach.

Gase has been in the NFL since 2003, when he started in Detroit before moving on to San Francisco as an offensive assistant for one year in 2008.

He has shown an ability to work well with a variety of quarterbacks, from Tim Tebow to Cutler, making him one of the most sought-after coaches this offseason.

Many people believed he would get a head coaching gig last year, though the Dolphins are likely thrilled the bright offensive mind was still available.

Gase will take over a Miami squad that fell well short of expectations in 2015. The Dolphins finished 6-10, including a 1-5 record against the AFC East. It marked the seventh straight year the franchise missed the playoffs; its last postseason victory came all the way back in 2000.

One of the keys to reversing that trend will be Gase working some of his quarterback magic with Ryan Tannehill, who was a popular choice to enjoy a breakout year in his fourth season. But Tannehill finished with a lackluster 88.7 passer rating.

"The most important thing that I have learned in this whole experience since 2011 is every guy is different and you need to adjust your offense to who you have," Gase said. "Every team is functioning around the quarterback."

If Gase can get Tannehill to play at the level the Dolphins were expecting when they used the eighth overall pick on him in 2012, the outlook for the team will become brighter.

The rest of the onus will fall on the front office. The team has a few notable potential free agents, including Olivier Vernon and Lamar Miller, who must get re-signed or replaced. Miami also needs upgrades on defense after it finished tied for 25th in sacks and 29th in takeaways.

That said, given how high Gase's stock was, he clearly felt the Dolphins' roster featured enough upside to accept his first head coaching gig. He could have continued to wait if he felt the job was not worth the trouble.

It won't be an easy task, though. Life in the same division as the New England Patriots significantly limits the margin for error, as the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets have also found out.

Gase earned his place as one of the most coveted coaching candidates available this offseason. Now it's his job to back up that hype in Miami.